Schrammel accordion

The traditional Viennese harmonica is a chromatic accordion with three rows of buttons in B position. It is usually equipped with zweichörig and twelve diatonic basses.

Sonically, the traditional Viennese harmonica takes off through the softer sound of the modern chromatic button accordion. The reason for this can be seen in part in the relatively small dimensions and low weight of the instrument, but also the handmade reed plates and the kind of atmosphere that contributes to its special sound character with.

History

The first written mention is the instrument in 1854, when the Viennese accordion maker Matthew Bauer at the industrial exhibition in Munich next to an instrument with piano keys and a " with half tones, equipped with three-row machine" and not just wechseltönig, presented (patent in 1851 for the first time ). According to Walter Maurer, the first idea is to have developed a musician named Franz Walther. The oldest currently known and preserved instrument dates back from 1874, according to 1954-1970 Schrammelmusik harmonicas were built only sporadically in Vienna.

Alfred Mirek mentions the instrument to the "Vienna System" as a model for the development of today's Bayan from 1870. In the Soviet era, the grip pattern was called "Moscow ", in contrast to the "Petersburg ", which was diatonic.

Most surviving instruments date from the 1920s and 1930s.

Two generations Reisinger, Edmund high Holzer, Josef Trimmel, Pospisil, Farmer, Pick, Adolf Regelstein, Franz Kuritka, Rudolf Barton besides Karl Budowitz (1882-1925), the major manufacturers, plus an unknown number of artisans, their probably from commercial legal reasons names kept secret.

Mention in the official report on the General German Commercial exhibition in Berlin in 1844. " II harmonicas [ ... ] August Schopp, in Vienna, showed by the submission of a harmonica to 30 Nthlrn. Sgr 20. , However much this instrument has had to be perfect by the Present on which of a practiced hand quite like pieces of music bring forth a circumference of about 4 octaves has to shorten years of its creation. the exterior of the instrument is very elegantly decorated with mother of pearl and other ornaments. "

Today

Currently, only two independent accordion constructors are known which also build individual Schrammelmusik harmonicas. The skilled harmonica Bauer Herfried Zernig from Sebersdorf in Styria produces customized Schrammelmusik harmonicas that are largely based on historical instruments in detail but they are not a copy of original instruments. Zernig differs at least in the far -crafted instruments in essential details from the original. He used today available reed plates and grow them on. Earlier, it was generally customary to place them on leather. Also the wood joints were previously performed with hot glue, what today would be also possible, and also no more difficult to handle than synthetic white glue. The bass mechanism is modeled more after the diatonic harmonica than the original period, the arrangement of the bass keys and the key assignment of which is not affected. Bass keys are at least in the known products not on bass floor, but on the front of the bass part, as is usual with the accordion today. The bellows is not traditional, but after the manner of a traditional Styrian harmonica. Musicians who can be a harmonica today make for historical model, but could also ask for these details. A unique but every now copied instrument always remain, in which only show up in retrospect whether it will meet the expectations reasonably fair. However, the known manufactured by Zerwig instruments are beautiful examples of how traditional craftsmanship in the harmonica is possible today. It is also noteworthy that these instruments are completely made up on some molding joints for the bass mechanics the reed plates, pearl buttons, Balgecken and Balgkartonfalten down to the raw materials such as wood, wire, screws, leather, felt and linen from the accordion constructors. In addition to Herfried Zernig Gerhard Gruebel made ​​of St. Martin in the Tennen Mountains under the brand name NOBLE harmonicas to order Schrammelmusik harmonicas.

Origin of the name

Since 1870, the violinist Johann and Josef Schrammelmusik played in George Dänzers quartet together with Anton Strohmayer on the contra-guitar. Dänzer was famous in Vienna as a virtuoso of the G clarinet, there were Landler, polkas and the legendary played " old dance ". After 1873, the year of the great stock market crash and a subsequent far-reaching "back to nature " movement, the exact same cast called The Schrammeln - after the two Geiger finished their studies and had given up the desire for career in high culture. They toured all over Europe and approached by their virtuosity and the strict polyphonic set the folk music of " Classical " to. Johann Strauss ( son ) and Crown Prince Rudolf were avowed fans. The performances of the Schrammeln were sold out; they invented the music tourism in its present form: what the bus driver in Grinzing were today, then the cab.

1890 George died Dänzer, for lack of good clarinetist Anton Ernst replaced him, a cousin of Johann Schrammel woman. This was the first known " Schrammelmusik " ​​harmonica player. From him several very good quartet arrangements and a harmonica school are preserved.

In no time, established this occupation (two violins, accordion, guitar counterpoint ) as Schrammelmusik Quartet and with the associated Schrammelmusik today in Vienna chamber music tradition.